This thread is to keep a list of all the great products that will help organize and beautify your garage. We NAMers love to spend time modding, detailing or just gazing at our MINIs, so it only follows that the space we spend all that time in should be functional as well as attractive.
To that end, I'm starting with listing some of the sites and products I have either used or wished for in the last few years. Please feel free to add to this thread any products you have liked and the link.

Flooring
This is what we have in our basement and execise room. It is also used for car showrooms and industrial applications. I like it better than the RaceDeck tiles. The LockTiles are made of recycled rubber and are flexible and are very quiet to walk on and easier to stand on for long periods. The RaceDeck tiles are a hard plastic and make a clacking sound when you walk on them.
http://www.locktile-usa.com/

We used this in our kennel, it is an epoxy coating and much sturdier than the product available at the big box stores. We've had it about a year and love it.
http://originalcolorchips.com/

More flooring options, I have no personal experience with any of these products, I just like all of them and keep them in my "Garage Design" file.

http://www.premiergarage.bz/httpdocs/html/flooring.html
http://racedeck.com/
http://www.kiwitile.com/home/
http://www.allmats.com/site/439205/page/664576
http://www.jnkproducts.com/garagefloormats.htm
http://www.supercoat.us/
http://www.armorpoxy.com/home2.html?...VMTC=standard#
http://www.matsinc.com/


Some storage ideas.
I am buying 2 of these hoists. One will be to hold the trailer (I have a small 4'x4') the other will be for various track day goodies, the EZ up, chairs, coolers, etc.
http://www.ajprindle.com/index.jhtml...navAction=jump

This is a great all-around catalog, tools, storage, organization, whatever-
http://sportys.com/shoptool/

Other storage-
http://www.mygaragestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1264
http://www.keeptrakamerica.com/
http://www.storewall.com/index.htm

Tire storage:
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/ttr/tire_garage.jsp

Cabinetry
http://www.hotrodbysauder.com/home/default.asp
http://www.premiergarage.bz/httpdocs...cabinetry.html
http://www.baldheadcabinets.com/index1.html

The Griots detailers rolling cart is cool so here it is, followed by a couple of other options in carts.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=92520
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=C&ec=&topnav=
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...002099/c-10101

Lifts if you have the space and money!
http://www.resparksol.com/
http://eagleequip.com/page/EE/CTGY/L...lift-S-308-308
http://www.loft-it.com/index.asp this one is for motorcycles or lawn tractors

My dream vacuum/blower.
http://www.properautocare.com/jumwalmounva.html

kenchan's pick for trash cans
http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs/...=10#resultBody
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....3060&SKU=92359
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....3060&SKU=38890

This looks handy, a shop towel dispenser. I think I'll have to get one!
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....3060&SKU=77594

This is a neat window blind, you can see out from inside but no one can see in! I love the view from my garage windows, but don't want people to be able to see if my cars are in there.
http://www.solarfilmco.com/fabrics.html

Some beautiful doors, or just some hardware to dress up existing doors.
http://www.americanheritagedoor.com/doors.html
http://www.garage-doors-and-parts.co...l?src=overture
http://firstudt.dwgreen.com/products/?o=1&area=p
http://www.amarr.com/selection/carriage.html

The ultimate fridge for your garage!
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/07/chillin-with-mini/

A couple of sites to reference for general garage/shop set-up help
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/
http://www.slk32.com/pages/garage/Ga...upgarageanchor

 

nice links!

i like the GarageStore stuff. that rolling cart (steel) looks good.
oh, and checkout that CycleWorks door cabinets they got. that
junior one would work perfect for my garage...

how about a list of cool trash cans? oily cans, winking cans?

 

kenchan, that list is about 1/20th of what I have . I have many more but I'm trying to check each link and make sure they are still operable and that the item I saved the link for still exists!
I have the trashcans saved and will add those tonight. So now you've had yours for a week or so, what do you think?

Annette

 

Any suggestions for a floor surfacing product in the less-than-$100 range?

 

What size garage?
Annette

 

I've got the racedeck style floor tiles from Sears (about 1000 square feet worth) coveriung the floor of my garage/shop. They are available in gray, black, red, and tan. I've alternating gray and black tiles now, but I may accent with a few boxes of red tiles in the future. My original floor was cracked up and one corner had settled about 1/2" to 3/4", and the tiles hide all the imperfections very well, and were one of the least expensive, quality tile systems I could find.

In a couple more years I'm going to add on to the side of the garage with a dedicated work area with a lift, and then use the existing space (big enough for 8 Mini/Miata/Elise sized cars) just for car storage. The current garage is 34'x 32'.

-Keith

 

Any pics, Mineon?
Annette

 

Here is the cabinet system that I use. Love them!

http://www.baldheadcabinets.com/index1.html

 

Here is a link to my Cardomain page which has several pics of my garage on it, you can see where the "neon" part of my screen name came from:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/715037

I did my floor a section at a time to help break the cost up. The Sears tiles come 20 to a box, so I would buy 2 or 4 or 6 boxes every couple of months. Took me close to two years, but it is finally about 95% done.

 

This is a great new thread. It will help folks designing, remodeling, and/or organizing their garages for storage and detailing. I've stickied it for easy access. Everyone, please add new links and suggestions as you see fit. Annette will update her opening thread on an as-needed basis, too.

 

wow, dang!

the oily can that I got from global industrial is great. Its a fire engine
red color and perfect for those that are looking for a red oily can. The
one i have is the 6 gallon (same can as the Griot's). They also have a
yellow one and different sizes.　　the oily can is for oily rags, oily paper
towels that might spontaneously combust.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs/product/advancedSearch.web;jsessionid=E2MV21m13hbyf9nVLukW XuGmV7lEx08T72Xj8ihXi4danIbXjNf9!337951810!1682746 532?command=Search&searchParams.keywords=oily%20tr ash&searchParams.size=10#resultBody

Im hoping to get my other trash can (winking RED one) from Griots
tomorrow! this trash can is my primary trash can for
paper towels, leaves, pop cans, watever that will not self explode.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=wink+

 

wow, your garage floor looks great! (not just the floor, but your
entire garage).

 

"The RaceDeck tiles are a hard plastic and make a clacking sound when you walk on them."

I am just about to order the Race Deck "Free Flow" tiles. They allow dirt and snow/water to fall through so you don't track it into the house which can then be preassure washed out the door.

In addition, they are MUCH quieter and almost $1 cheaper that the standard tile.

Buying direct from Race Deck...not bad pricing.

The tiles from Sears are almost $1 MORE than a standard Race Deck tile...not too good....

Dave

 

Those racedeck free flows do look interesting (but no pricing on the web site??). But since water would be getting through and living underneath for a while, wouldn't it be even more imporant to seal the concrete below?

 

I think it was $2.40 each plus shipping.

Regarding the water:
Evaporation will happen
There is drainage below...so if your garage drains out the door now...it will continue to.
Wouln't hurt to seal the concrete with the regular or the free-flow...but I am not planning on doing so.

Dave

 

Android993, I absolutely love the Baldhead cabinets. I'm trying to convince my best friend's husband to let me re-design his garage and this is the cabinet I showed him! We'll see....
I've added kenchan's link for his "oily" trash can and Android993's cabinet link to OP.

Annette

 

Thanks! Having as much square footage in the garage for cars, as in the condo we used to live in was a big reason we bought this place.

The flooring has been great so far. I can even jack on it most of the time with no marring in the tiles, but when a tile does get marked up or disfigured, I just pop it out (easy to remove one tile in the middle if needed) and move it over to a corner which can't be easily seen.

About the only problem I've had so far is angling our Mustang to park over on one side. Turning the wide sticky tires while backing in would buckle the tiles up a little bit. Never had that problem with the Mini, Miata, or even our 2-ton Freestyle, just the Mustang. I back it straight in now with no turning needed. Problem solved.

Future plans call for insulating the garage and getting some heat in it so I can work out there year round, and I'll probably keep it to 50° or so during the winter, even when I'm not working out there, just so the cars will be relatively warm when we leave on a cold winter morning.

-Keith

 

Each as in each 1-foot square? So I'm still talkin' a couple hunded $ even for a small 1-car garage.
And my garage drains IN...rain comes in through my door and kinda flows around and out the sides and back... but maybe these will keep that water underneath as right now I end up with muddy puddles in the garage.
Something to consider, though, thanks.

 

I had some water problems in my garage too, I would get water and snow tracked in by vehicles, and if the wind was blowing towards the garage door, I would get puddles inside sometimes too (there is a drain in the middle of the floor). The tiles are 1/4"-3/8" tall, and the water just drains down between the tiles, leaving the surface on top much drier than the concrete floor was before.

I went with the tiles from Sears because they were among the least expensive I could find when I started puttin ghtem down a couple of years ago ($2.75 per sq ft), but Sam's Club now sells similar tiles for only $1.40 per tile. Much more affordable.
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...374&pCatg=6344

-Keith

 

This is what I did with my garage. 90% of the job is in the prep work. Making sure the surface is clean prior to coating. We have been manufacturing industrial coatings for over 50 years. We manufacture epoxy and urethane coatings that will hold up to anything that you might spill on the floor. Our products are used on warehouse floors, pools and boats. Don Garlit's used to paint his drag cars with our epoxy. Bush Gardens also uses our coatings on their walk ways and pools. Price ranges from $31.50 to $41.75 a gallon. Coverage is from 200 to 300 sq. ft. to the gallon. Give me a call and I'll be more than happy to tell you more.

http://www.pilgrimpermocoat.com/

http://www.sunshineminis.org/gallery...799&fullsize=1

 

dpilgrim, are all of the products listed under "coatings/sealants" appropriate for a garage floor?
Annette

 

For the garage floors I would recommend the B-1 Primer, Plastic, Urocel. The B-1 is a penetrate type of primer with no fillers. Plastic is a epoxy paint and the Urocel is a clear urethane paint. If you floor isn't exposed to sunlight the Plastic is a good choice. The reason is that NO (and I mean NO) epoxy has any UV inhibitors. If your floor is exposed then I would put a coat of the colored plastic down with a top coat of Urocel. The only problem with this is that you will have a VERY smooth floor. If it gets wet it gets slippery. You can broadcast a fine sand blast sand into the final coat and back roll. But just a little. If you get to heavy on the sand it will make it harder to clean.

 

Well racedeck got back to me and the quote was over $500...not exactly in my hundred or so range. :( I wonder, is there some kind of perforated rubber matting I can get at home depot and roll out myself that might work? Leave it to me to find some cheap DIY alternative.

 

 

My racedeck free flow sample arrived yesterday. I want it! Maybe if I ask for 179 more quotes and get free samples each time, I'll have a free garage floor....
They included a DVD with their demo infomercial thing, but also a full episode of hometime that includes many other nice garage products. I like those horizontal sliding tool hangers, I saw those on this old house as well. I can keep dreaming!